The Communications Toolbox is your go-to resource for College of Nursing communications needs. The Communications team is able to create and offer guidance on marketing materials and strategic services.
About Us
The Communications team provides strategic leadership, oversight, tactical and technical direction for the University of South Carolina College of Nursing in support of its mission, vision and goals.
Our focus:
- Create content with defined brand standards and based on sound marketing and communications principles for a range of audiences.
- Develop and execute college-level marketing strategies designed to promote its mission and brand positioning.
- Manage the adherence to brand standards and guidelines established by the university.
Our timeline:
Minimum notice for project requests based on capacity and competing priorities
- 10 business days: Print requests such as abstract posters, signs, and event programs (this does not include creative design)
- 10 business days: Media relations such as press releases, advertising and promotion
- 7 business days: Creative design such as event programs, flyers, and signs (this does not include print requests)
- 5 business days: Social media posts (this does not include creative design or copywriting)
- 5 business days: Web page updates (this does not include new pages)
- 3 business days: Digital display uploads (this does not include creative design)
Due to the academic cycle, the Communications team may have limited ability to assist with new projects during the peak of the fall and spring semesters; we appreciate your understanding.
Communications Toolbox
Communications Request Form
We’re here to support and amplify the college’s vision and ongoing accomplishments. Whether through newsletters, web stories, or social media, we offer a variety of platforms to help share your message with the community. Please complete all communications requests here.
The Communications team will be in touch regarding your request for additional information if needed and to determine how best to meet your goals.
Art approval– All graphic elements with the College of Nursing logo/subunit logo or the USC logo should be approved by Nicole Meares.
Received a new grant, working on a research project, earned an award, presenting at a conference? We want to hear from you!
Share your news and accomplishments for opportunities to be highlighted on the web, in newsletters, on social media, etc. The dean's suite also receives these submissions.
Flyers and other print collateral – Printed materials can be an invaluable asset for recruiting students and faculty. In order to ensure brand quality and consistency, we encourage departments to work with the Communications team at the college.
Social media – Currently, the college has an official presence on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn. Alumni Relations also has a LinkedIn group for alumni.
Newsletters – The CONnection is a monthly publication produced by the Communications team. Alumni News is a bi-monthly publication produced by Alumni Relations. Nursing Pulse is a monthly publication produced by the Office of Academic Affairs. CON Insider is a weekly publication produced by the Office of the Dean. Some departments and centers also produce newsletters.
Magazine – Gamecock Nursing Nation is our annual magazine, usually printed and mailed every fall.
Other Services – The Communications team also offers graphic design, environmental design, photography and limited videography for projects that align with the strategic goals of the college. If we aren’t able to assist you with your marketing needs, we can work with other university resources.
- The primary unit logo includes the tree and gates block with the name of the campus, college, school or center to the right of the monogram.
- The formal unit logo includes the trees and gates with the name of the campus, college, school or center typeset below the University of South Carolina.
- All unit and subunit logos are created and provided by the Division of Communications and Marketing. Do not create a new logo or modify an existing unit logo. Before downloading or using unit logos, review and understand the usage and guidelines for unit logos as well as which version of the unit logo is most appropriate for the purpose of your message or communications.
**anything with a logo must be reviewed by the Communications team before printing, ordering or distributing.
Templates
University PowerPoint presentation
Customizable Letterhead - follow template instructions to replace with unit logo and update header/footer. For assistance, contact the Communications team.
Email Signatures – All email signatures should be in the following format.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) break down digital accessibility into four principles, providing a comprehensive framework for understanding best practices:
- Perceivable - Do users with disabilities have a way to perceive content through sight, hearing, or touch?
- Operable - Can content be operated using inputs such as keyboard and speech?
- Understandable - Is your content easy to read and navigate?
- Robust - Does your content work well with different devices and technologies?
PDF documents: All digital documents on our website—and those made available to students by faculty (even on Blackboard Ultra)—should be ADA compliant.
Digital display signs at the College of Nursing are used to welcome students, faculty, staff, and visitors; celebrate college achievements; promote upcoming events; and create awareness for campus programs and resources that support student success and involvement. Screens displaying digital signage at the college are located in various locations on both campuses.
Any member of the college may request to promote university-approved events and official announcements by submitting a Communications Request Form.
If submitting your own design, the College of Nursing reserves the right to alter the design of your display without additional notice. No pertinent information will be altered.
We can help ptich subject matter experts and write press releases:
USC Daybook – The USC Daybook goes out weekly to nearly 400 reporters in South Carolina and surrounding areas. The email communication includes short entries about subject matter experts who are available to comment on current events and news.
The Conversation – The university is partnered with The Conversation, an independent, not-for-profit, digital media outlet that features articles written by academics for a lay audience. The format allows for more in-depth news coverage. Faculty work with professional editors to develop story ideas and craft easily digestible stories.
Targeted media pitching – Have you ever wondered how a media outlet came up with a particular story idea? Odds are the story was “pitched” to them by a communications professional.
Press releases – Press releases (also known as news releases) are less common in today’s quick moving world, but a press release may be appropriate for more formal announcements.
Media training – Would you like to promote your work more broadly, but don’t know where to start? We can work with the university to schedule one-on-one media training or hold a departmental training event.
Our team supports annual external college-level events through marketing, design and publicity. Since we're a small team, we need help from you to make your event successful.
- Fall & Spring Open House
- Party on the Patio
- Viana McCown Lectureship
- Carolina Clinical Excellence Conference
- Annual Leadership Summit
- Research & Scholarship Day
Department Team To Do's:
- Submit CON Communications Request Form.
- Provide final event description content.
- Provide registration link OR create and manage Eventbrite link: Contact Amie Rischbieter of USC Foundations to set up link.
- Create and provide any other links needed (abstract form, awards form, etc).
- Google forms, Microsoft forms, RedCap, etc.
- Share event
- Examples: Industry partners and peers, personal contacts, registrants from previous years, or in classrooms and department/college meetings.
- If applicable, send to Jessica McCormick for weekly CON Insider internal email and CON Insider calendar and send to Heidi Waltz for Nursing Pulse.
Communications Team To Do's:
- Design digital advertisements/graphics
- Publicity
- Email template by request only (for Department Team to disseminate).
- Strategic social media posts on CON social media.
- The college's lobby digital screens and online calendar (25Live) if applicable.
- Include in monthly The CONnection and Alumni Newsletter if applicable.
- Paid advertising with Department's funding if applicable.
- Design and print event program and signs if applicable.
- Assist in giveaway orders if applicable (Department Team is responsible for assembling gift bags or baskets).
- Branded tablecloths if applicable (Department Team is responsible for picking up and returning borrowed items clean - machine wash cold, gentle cycle, mild detergent, dryer, no heat - and in working condition 2-3 business days after event).
- Branded backdrops or pull-up banners if applicable (Department Team is responsible for picking up, setting up and returning borrowed items in working condition 2-3 business days after event).
- Easles and tabletop signs if applicble (Department Team is responsible for picking up, setting up and returning borrowed items in working condition 2-3 business days after event).
Other Support:
CON IT Standard Event Support
University Event Toolkit
Giveaway items are for outreach focused purposes only. To request items from the College of Nursing giveaway closet, please submit a CON Communications Request Form. Since we're a small team, we do not have the ability to create gift bags or baskets.
The college's online shop, available to the public, is under construction. Check back later for updates. If you would like to see a particular item in the shop, please let us know!
Looking to purchase a Gamecock Stethoscope? Visit the university MarketPlace.
**if requesting items for a special event, please request a meeting with the Communications team before submitting a form so we can accomodate event needs.
The college's Communications team can accommodate headshot requests. The university can also take headshots at 1300 Pickens Street, Monday mornings 9 -10 a.m. Complete this form to get on their schedule.
The Communications team oversees the development and content management for the College of Nursing webpages with the assistance of departmental web liaisons. The external Nursing website has current news and event items, program information, research and center updates, and alumni and donor news. The My CON internal site has student and employee resource and operational information.
Please complete the Communications Request Form for all college website updates. Examples include:
- Faculty/Staff Bio pages
- Academic Pages
- My CON
Social Media – If you're on social media, please follow us! The more you like and share our content, the more people will see our college's events, news, updates and wins.
Stay current with the university by signing up for USC Today morning emails.
You are automatically subscribed to both The CONnection and CON Insider. If you are not receiving either of these newsletters, please let us know.
The Fixed Price Bid is now managed by the State of South Carolina’s procurement office.
These vendors have been trained in university brand style and can provide marketing strategy, writing, design, video, web, digital and public relations services. All vendors have agreed to a fixed hourly rate for their approved services.
Art approval – If you are ordering print materials, apparel or promotional items, please send your art to Nicole Meares to verify proper brand/logo usage before printing.
College/university printing and copying services must be done through the university's Printing Services.
Please work with the college's Communications team if Printing Services is unable to meet your deadline or if you find the cost cheaper with another vendor. This must be documented.
Printing Services request forms.
Poster Request
- Send to Communications 10 business days before needed.
- Poster needs to be sized by faculty member. File format is PDF only.
- Plotter/Banner request form - Communications can assist with completing the Printing Instructions section (i.e. description, media, size). Faculty member completes department information and account information sections, plus obtains an approver's signature.
- Communications can assist with submitting poster and form to Printing Services, managing issues that might occur.
- Communications does not pick up completed printed materials from Printing Services on behalf of the requestor.
Printing Services at Russell House
psrh@sc.edu
803-777-3820
closes at 3:00 p.m. daily
Printing & Marketing Mail
1600 Hampton St., Suite 120
Martha Rogers
roger266@mailbox.sc.edu
803-777-5146
USC Copier Center
reschke@mailbox.sc.edu
803-777-7460
Access university-branded letterhead, envelopes, business cards, presentation folders, name tags and other supplies from the PrintStore.